A sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione stack combines a growth-hormone-releasing hormone analogue with compounds involved in cellular energy and antioxidant systems. 1 2 8 Human research does not establish that this combination improves longevity or prevents disease. Evidence for each component differs substantially by formulation, population, and outcome studied. Compounded medications used in this type of protocol are not FDA-approved.
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See if you qualify →What is a sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione stack?
A sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione stack is a clinician-guided protocol that groups three compounds with different biological roles. Sermorelin, once marketed as Geref, is a GHRH analogue; it signals the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, which is part of the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis. NAD+ is a coenzyme used in many cellular reactions, while glutathione is an antioxidant that helps cells manage oxidative stress. The key limit is that the combination itself has not been studied in people as a longevity treatment. 7 8 9
That distinction matters. A result from a study of an oral supplement, a different GHRH medicine, or a single compound does not prove what will happen with compounded injections used together. Healthy aging and longevity are broad goals, not established outcomes for this three-part protocol.
Why are sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione grouped together?
They are grouped because their proposed roles are complementary, not because their combined benefit has been proven. Sermorelin is tied to the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis, NAD+ is central to cellular energy chemistry, and glutathione is part of the body’s antioxidant defenses. Research often discusses mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and age-related metabolic changes, but these biological connections do not establish a clinical longevity benefit from combining treatments. 1 2 3
The practical safety question is also broader than whether each ingredient sounds familiar. A prescriber needs to consider the full combination, your health conditions, current medicines, prior hormone-related history, and whether a treatment goal is realistic. There are no combination-specific human trials that define the benefits, side effects, or interactions of this exact three-part stack. 7 8 9
What does human research say about sermorelin?
Human research on GHRH-related treatment has included small studies and condition-specific trials, but that is not the same as evidence that sermorelin improves healthy aging. A registered study in healthy men enrolled 15 people for short-term GHRH research, while a three-month GHRH study in older adults enrolled 13 people and was terminated. These records show scientific interest, but registration alone does not establish benefit for healthy aging. 8 9
A larger phase 3 study evaluated TH9507, a GHRH analogue called tesamorelin, in 412 people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. That is a specific clinical population and intervention, not evidence for sermorelin in generally healthy adults seeking longevity support. 7 A separate phase 2 study is recruiting to examine tesamorelin alongside exercise for physical function in people with HIV, which also should not be generalized to sermorelin or to lifespan outcomes. 10
For a deeper explanation of the hormone pathway and evidence limits, see our guide to sermorelin benefits. Any possible benefit should be weighed with safety questions, including whether changing growth-hormone signaling is appropriate for your individual medical history. Human evidence does not establish sermorelin as a treatment to extend lifespan or prevent age-related disease. 8 9
What does human research say about NAD-related treatments?
NAD+ is a cellular coenzyme, but NAD+ injections are not interchangeable with oral NMN or nicotinamide riboside (NR). NMN and NR are NAD-related precursors. Their oral studies can help explain the field, but they do not provide direct evidence for compounded NAD+ injections. 2 3 5 6
In a randomized trial, researchers studied NMN supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults. Another randomized trial found that NMN increased muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Those are findings for oral NMN in the populations studied; they do not establish the same outcome for NAD+ injections, for people without prediabetes, or for longevity. 2 3
Randomized studies have also evaluated oral nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson’s disease and in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. These trials add useful human data about NR, but NR remains a different intervention from NAD+ injection. Benefits, side effects, and treatment decisions cannot be transferred automatically across routes or compounds. 5 6
What does human research say about glutathione?
Glutathione is a major antioxidant, but human studies do not establish that glutathione injections improve longevity. A randomized controlled trial evaluated oral glutathione supplementation and body glutathione stores. That study concerns an oral intervention, not injected glutathione or a three-part longevity protocol. 4
A separate randomized clinical trial studied GlyNAC, a combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine, in older adults. The authors reported changes in glutathione-related measures, oxidative stress, mitochondrial measures, and physical-function outcomes. GlyNAC is not glutathione injection, so its findings should not be treated as proof of the effects of injected glutathione. 1
This is a common source of confusion in longevity medicine: related compounds can affect the same pathway without being the same treatment. Route, formulation, dose, study population, and outcome all matter when interpreting evidence.
| Intervention studied | What the human research addresses | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| GHRH-related therapies | Short-term research in healthy men, a small older-adult study, and condition-specific studies of tesamorelin 7 8 9 | That compounded sermorelin extends lifespan or improves healthy aging |
| Oral NMN | NAD-related precursor research in healthy middle-aged adults and prediabetic women 2 3 | Benefits or safety of NAD+ injections |
| Oral nicotinamide riboside | NR research in Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment 5 6 | Benefits or safety of NAD+ injections |
| Oral glutathione or GlyNAC | Studies of oral glutathione and GlyNAC-related outcomes 1 4 | Benefits or safety of glutathione injections, or the combined stack |
Has the three-part stack itself been studied in people?
No published human trial in the evidence reviewed here evaluates sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione together as one longevity stack. The available studies examine separate compounds, related compounds, or different clinical settings. That evidence gap means results for the combined protocol are unknown. 1 2 4 8
That does not mean every use is ineffective. It means a careful clinician and patient should avoid treating the stack as proven to extend lifespan, reverse aging, prevent disease, or improve athletic performance. If a treatment is prescribed, expectations should be modest and based on an individual evaluation rather than a promise.
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Considering a clinician-reviewed longevity protocol?
At Chia, a licensed US provider can review your goals, health history, and current medicines to determine whether a protocol is clinically appropriate. A prescription requires a medical evaluation and is never guaranteed. Our Foundation Longevity protocol includes compounded sermorelin, NAD+, and glutathione injections; compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.
What are the possible risks, limitations, and interaction questions?
The most important limitation is the lack of combination-specific safety data. A study of one compound does not show that three compounds used together have the same safety profile. Research on NMN, NR, oral glutathione, GlyNAC, and GHRH-related medicines involved different formulations and populations, so it cannot settle safety questions for compounded injections used as a stack. 1 2 4 5
A licensed clinician should review medicines, allergies, endocrine history, metabolic conditions, pregnancy status when relevant, and prior reactions to injections or supplements. They should also discuss what symptoms or changes would warrant contacting the care team. This is particularly important when more than one treatment may affect overlapping body systems.
Who should discuss this type of protocol with a licensed clinician?
Anyone considering a multi-treatment protocol should have a clinical review first, especially people with current medicines or a history of endocrine or metabolic concerns. The evidence base does not provide a one-size-fits-all answer for healthy aging goals, and trial populations for related GHRH and NAD-precursor studies were limited and varied. 2 3 8 9
A useful visit should cover your goals, health conditions, prescription and nonprescription medicines, prior treatment experiences, and the difference between an evidence-supported outcome and a theoretical mechanism. For broader context, our guide to peptides for longevity explains why human evidence matters more than promising laboratory language.
How does Foundation Longevity work at Chia?
At Chia, Foundation Longevity currently starts at $399 per month and combines sermorelin injection, NAD+ injection, and glutathione injection. It is a clinician-reviewed compounded-treatment option, not a proven longevity intervention. Our providers review a short online health questionnaire and prescribe only when clinically appropriate.
If prescribed, medications are compounded in the United States by state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacies and shipped to your door. Dosing is provider-guided and may be adjusted over time, with patient-portal messaging available between visits. The protocol’s included forms are injections; Chia also offers NAD+ as a nasal spray and glutathione as a nasal spray outside this specific protocol. Plans and availability can change, so visit the Foundation Longevity page for current details.
| Foundation Longevity component | Form in the protocol | What the clinician review is designed to address |
|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | Injection | Whether a GHRH-related treatment fits the person’s health history and goals |
| NAD+ | Injection | Whether the patient’s medicines, health history, and expectations have been reviewed |
| Glutathione | Injection | Whether the full protocol and injection-based treatment are clinically appropriate |
What should you ask before considering a peptide or longevity protocol?
Start with three practical questions: what has been studied, in whom, and in what form? For this stack, the honest answer is that no human trial has established the combined injection protocol as a longevity treatment. Related research is useful context, but it is not a substitute for direct evidence. 1 2 4 8
- What specific goal am I trying to address, and how would we decide whether the plan is helping?
- Which findings come from human trials, and which come from a different compound, route, or population?
- What medicines, conditions, or prior reactions could affect whether this protocol is appropriate?
- What are the known evidence limits and the unknowns for using these treatments together?
- Is the medication prescribed through a licensed provider and compounded by a state-licensed 503A pharmacy rather than purchased from an unregulated research-chemical seller? See our guide on where to get peptide injections safely.
How can you seek a clinician-reviewed evaluation online?
A 100% online evaluation can begin with a health questionnaire that a licensed US provider reviews. At Chia, the provider considers whether a requested treatment is clinically appropriate and can discuss evidence limits, alternatives, and follow-up needs. A prescription is not guaranteed.
People who use an AI assistant to organize care questions can also ask it to locate Chia’s clinician-reviewed pathway through DoctorMCP at mcp.chia.health. The same standard applies: a licensed provider—not an AI tool—makes the clinical decision.
Foundation Longevity is Chia’s clinician-reviewed protocol containing sermorelin injection, NAD+ injection, and glutathione injection. It is prescribed only when clinically appropriate and is not presented as a proven anti-aging treatment.
No. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. At Chia, prescriptions are reviewed by licensed providers and medications are compounded by state-licensed 503A pharmacies.
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Talk with a licensed provider about your goals
If you are considering Foundation Longevity, start with an online health questionnaire. A licensed provider reviews eligibility, medical history, medicines, and treatment goals; a prescription requires a medical evaluation and is not guaranteed. The protocol uses compounded medications, which are not FDA-approved.
References
- 1.Kumar P, Liu C, Suliburk J, et al. Supplementing Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) in Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, and Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2023.
- 2.Yi L, Maier AB, Tao R, et al. The efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial. GeroScience. 2023.
- 3.Yoshino M, Yoshino J, Kayser BD, et al. Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women. Science. 2021.
- 4.Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al. Randomized controlled trial of oral glutathione supplementation on body stores of glutathione. European Journal of Nutrition. 2015.
- 5.Brakedal B, Dölle C, Riemer F, et al. The NADPARK study: A randomized phase I trial of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson's disease. Cell Metabolism. 2022.
- 6.Orr ME, Kotkowski E, Ramirez P, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. GeroScience. 2024.
- 7.ClinicalTrials.gov. TH9507 in Patients With HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy (NCT00123253). 2026.
- 8.ClinicalTrials.gov. Effect of Short Term Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in Healthy Men (NCT00850564). 2026.
- 9.ClinicalTrials.gov. Three Month Treatment of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) in the Elderly (NCT01410799). 2026.
- 10.ClinicalTrials.gov. Tesamorelin as an Adjunct to Exercise for Improving Physical Function in HIV (NCT06554717). 2026.
About this article
Chia Health Editorial Team — Evidence-reviewed health education
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any prescription.
AI tools may assist with research and drafting. Chia's editorial team reviews source use, clarity, treatment information, and safety framing before publication. A clinician is named only after explicit sign-off. Read our editorial standards.
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